Tide-set-calculating instrument for navigators.



EH11 JR.

TIDE SET GALGULATING'INSTRUMENT FOR NAVIGATOES.

APPLIOATEOH FILED APR. 8, 1909.

Patented Dec.28,19097 Ynvznrmz:

"UNITED STAT ]13 PATENT FFICE I EliBENEZER HILL, JR., OF NORWALK, CONNECTICUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Application filed April 8, 1909. Serial No. 488,552.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that L'EBENEZIJR HILL, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwalk, in the county of Fairfield and State of ormccticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tide Set Calculating Instruments for Navigators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an instrument which is designed to enable a navigator to determine the effect of tide on the speed and course of a vessel.

Navigators are required to allow for the influence of tide, which may be such as to increase the normal speed of the vessel, from locality to locality or over bottom, as when the tide is running with the vessel, either from directly aft or from any point on either side between aft andabeam; or may be such as to decrease the normal speed over bottom, as when the tide is running against the vessel, either from directly ahead or from any point on. either side between forward and abeam. At the same time, whether the tide is favorable, unfavorable or neutral, allowance must be made for the offset or drift of thevessel, caused by the running of ride across a course, from any point on either side between forward and aft of the course of the vessel. This is necessary in order to keep a vessel true on its course, and also to know how far the vessel will go in a specified time, and how long it will take to the a given distanceover bottom, under existing tidal conditions.

The object of this invention is to provide an histrui'nent with which a navigator, having knowledge of the direction and velocity ical calculations previously necessaryfor a of the tide, asgiven by the prepared tide taand charts, and knowing the normal ed of his vessel, can, without any mathetical calculation, instantly, by mere mctnical manipulation of the instrument, demine the number of compass points to be allowed for the set of the tide, and at a followed in order to overcome the tidal set and keep the vessel on its true course, and also read the distance the vessel will move over bottom in a specified unit of time, and the time which will elapse while traveling a known unit of distance, over bottom.

The use of an instrument which embodies this invention obgiates the long mathematance can see the true compass reading toinavigator to make in order to determine these factors, and besides saving much valuable time, eliminates the always present liability of error in figures and signs, for the instrument makes the calculations for these factors mechanically with absolute accuracy in a small fraction of the time required to work out the problems.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings shows a plan of an instrument which embodies the invention. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the movement of the parts of this'instrument.

The instrument illustrated has an elongated base 1, which is desirably made of brass, but may be made of any other suitable material. Extending longitudinally and centrally ofthe base is a slot 2, movable along which is a block 3. Pivotally mounted on. the stud 4 carried by this block, is a compass rose 5. This rose is marked with the letters usually employed to denote the cardinal points, and with lines and fig ures indicating the degrees of a compass. Pivotally mounted on the stud carried by the block in the slot is an arm 6, having a hand '7, which points to the degrees of the compass rose. hlovable along this arm is a block 8. This block is moved back and forth in the opening in the arm by a screw 9, which has av thumb piece 10, by means of which it may be turned.

A pointer 11 is pivoted on a stud 12 that projects from the block 13, which is secured to the face of the base. The axis of this pointer is on the center line of the slot in the base. The pointer is also pivotally connected with the block that is movable along the arm, by a stud 14. The pointer terminates at a scale 15, which is formed on or attached to the'face of the base. This scale is formed on an arc, the center of which is coincident with the axis of the pointer, and the degrees are those of a circle having the same center.

Secured to and traveling with the block that is movable in the slot in the base, is a plate 16, which has a scale 17 and a sea e18. Projecting from the pointer pivot h ock, which is fixed to the base, and extending over these scales is an index 19. Oath e swinging arm is a scale 20, and on the block thatmoves along the arm is an index 21, which reads in connection with this scale.

The distance from the fixed axis 12, of the pointer, to the movable axis 1 1, of the pointer, is always the same, and represents unity, or 100% of the normal speed-of the vessel, whether that speed be 10, 15, 20, 25, or any other number of knots per hour, as the case may be. The scale 20, on the arm, is graduated and laid ott' in divisions representing the speed of the tide, as measured in percentage of the normal speed of the ship. That is, the distance from the axis 4:, ot' the arm, to the movable axis 14, of the pointer,

(as represent ed by the scale 20), bears to the distance from the fixed axis 12, of the pointer, to the movable axis 14, of the pointer, the same percentage that the speed of the tide bears to the normal speed of the vessel. For example, if the normal speed of the vessel is 10 knots per hour, and the speed of the tide is 2.5 knots per hour, the tide speed is ot the normal vessel speed.

. Under these conditions the block to which the pointer is connected would be moved until the index 21 on the block, points to 25 on the scale 20, as shown in Fig. 1. The block is moved outwardly from the axis 1 of the arm, if the tide speed bears a greater percentage, and inwardly it the tide speed bears a less percentage, to the ship speed.

In using this instrument, the block 8 is first adjusted along the arm by turning the screw, and set to the degree on the arm scale 20, which indicates the proper tide velocity ratio to the normal vessel speed. In the case assumed and illustrated in the drawings, this is 25%, that is, if the vessel speed is 10 knots, and the tide speed 2.5 knots, the block index is setat 25 on the arm scale; Next the compass rose is rotated on its axis 1 on the movable block, until the degree denoting the destination incompass hearing, as taken from the navigation chart, set opposite 0 of the fixed scale 15. The hand 7 is then swung to the degree on the rose, cor responding to the direction in which the tide is setting, which information is obtained from the common tide books and charts. For instance, it the chart course is north the rose is turned until N is opposite O, aml it the tide is setting north S2 degrees east. the

hand is turned until it points to N R2 degrecs E on the compass rose, as illustrated. This movement of the hand causes the arm and the pointer to swing in such manner and. the proper distance, that as a result the pointer indicates on the fixed scale 1:1 the number of degrees of tidal offset, or the number of degrees to be allowed on the compass course to overcome the influence of the. tide, and run a true course.

The movement of these parts simultanc ously moves the scales 17 and 18, that are fixed to the block 3 in the center slot, and their movement is indicated by the fixed pointer 19. The scale 17 is graduated and mal speed of the vessel with a neutral'tide' is 10 knots per hour. the scale will assume such position as to read the percentage 0t 10 knots per hour that. will be traversed under theprevailing conditions, in an hour. The drawings show the instrument. adjusted for a northerly course with an easterly setof tide. This set. for such a course bein neutral, as respects speed, the vessel wil move over bottom at her normal speed, 10 knots per hour, or 100% of her normal speed, as shown by the scale 17.

The sale 18 shows the time necessary to cover 100% of the unit of ships speed over bottom. This, for convenience. has been reduced to seconds, minutes and hours, or in other words, this scale is graduattal to indirate how long a time must elapse under the prevailing conditions, to cover the tl11litll distance, that is 10 knots. if the vessel a 10 knot ship.

It a tide was running at the rate of 501/} of the normal ship speed, the arm block 8 would be adjusted to 50, on the arm scale 20, which shows the percentage of tidal. [low to vessel speed. And it the tide were in such a direction that opposed to the speed of the vessel, when the. hand was swung to the direction ot the set of the tide the parts would be so moved, that is, the block carrying the arm, rose and scales, would so adjust themselves. that the scale 17 would read :10 percent. of the normal running distance, traveled in an hour, and the scale 18 would read 2 hours, to run the normal unit distance. in other words, it the normal speed were 10 knots, the scale '17 would read 50?; ol 1() knots. or 5 knots, which would-he run in 1 hour, and the scale 19. would read hours as the time required under the prevailing conditions, to run 110- knots. the normal unit ot' speed assumed.

.\s the distance between the tixcd axis 12 and the movable axis 1! of the pointer. is constant and unitary. or H1070, and the dis' tancc on the scale 20 between the axis 4-, of the 'arm. and the movable axis ll, of the pointer is proportioned thereto, the instrulinks. with scales arranged to read the variits full force were.

its

end link Maser B ous triangulations resulting from the ma nipula'ti'on of the links. as indicated by the diagram shown as Fig.

One link is the pointer from the axis 12'- of its pivotal connection with the base, to the axis 14. of its pivotal connection with the arm. The second is the arm 't roin the axis 14; of its pivotal connection with the pointer, to the axis 4: of its pivotal and sliding connection withthe base. find the third is the base from the axis t of the sliding connection, between the arm and the base, to'the axis 1 2 of the fixed pivotal connec tion of the base and pointer. The axis 12 of the connection between the pointer and the base is relatively fixed, although of course, the pointer swings on this axis. The

axis 14 of the connection between the pointer and the arm, while adjustable along and movable with the arm, is a. fixed distance with relation to the axis '12, so that the pointer link is always the same length. and while the length of the arm link is adjust able, after it is adjusted for the particular percentage of the rate of tide velocity to the rate of vessel speed, the length ot this link is lixed 't'or that special calculation. The axis 4 is movable with relation to the axis 12. so that the length of the base link is changeable. As a result of this, the angle a, varies according to the length of the base link and arm link. That is, the angle a depends upon the location of the axis t and the angular position of the axis ll. in other words, varying the length of the base link, by moving the arm link, changes all oi? the angles a, b and c. The angle a, formed by thebasc link and pointer link, is read from the. segmental scale 15. The angle a is determined by the movement of the hand (a prolongation of the arm link) about the coinpass rose, and of course. this relatively changes the. angle a. The length of the base link is read by the scale 18, which length. of course depends on the distance of the axis 4- troin the axis 12. angle a, which is observed by reading from the segmental scale 15, depends upon the position of the hand 7,-which is turned about the rose. and the length of the base link, as read by the scale 19, also depends upon the position to which the hand is turned.

Assuming that the first link or pointer ll, which is of fixed length, to represent unity or 100% of the vessel speed, and the sec centage of the tide velocity to the vessel speed, the angle a will show the amount that the course of the-vessel must be set up in order to have the resultant true course. So

that by turning thehand to the point on the compass rose, to which the tide is Howing, the rose being set to the true course, causes the pointer to show the otl'set. \s

As a result of this, the

or arm 6, to represent the perlthe pointer link represents 100% of the vessel speed, and as the lengthof the arm link is the percentage of the tide velocity at the time (determined from the tide tables), to the vessel speed, the instrument for a vessel having any speed, with tides link is entirely dependenton the angles, a, 7), and w, the position of the scale 18, which really tells the position of the axis 4, and the length of the third link, computes in percentage of the vessels unit speed, which the vessel actually passes over the ground in unit time.

The invention claimed is:

I. it rmvigatofs instrn-n'ient having a base, a link representing unity pivoted to the base, a link pivotally connected with the first. mentioned link and pivotally and slidingly. connected with the base, means for the pivotal connections of said latter link with said former link and with said base, a rotatable scale mounted concentric with the axis or the pivotal connection of said latter link with the has! and scales for reading the angular relations of the links, substantially as specified.

2. navigators calculating instrument having a base, a pointer pivoted on the'base, a scale for indicating the degrees of move ment 01' said pointer, said scale being fixed on the base and having its center coincident with the axis of the pointer, a compass rose pivoted on a movable axis, an arm pivoted on said movable axis, a swivel connection between said arm and said pointer, and a hand projecting from said arm and pointing to the graduations o1 the compass rose.

3. A. navigators calculating instrument having a base, pointer pivoted on the base, a scale tor indicating the degrees of movement otl said pointer, said scale being fixed on the base and having its center coincident with the axis of the pointer, a compass rose pivoted on movable axis, an arm pivoted on said movable axis, a scale on said arm, a swivel connection between said arm and said pointer, means for adjustin the swivel connection along said arm, ancla hand projecting from said arm and pointing to the graduations of the compass rose.

4-. A navigator-s calculating instrument having a base, a pointer pivoted on the base, a scale for indicating the degrees of movement of said pointer, said scale being fixed on the base and having its center coincident with the axis or" the pointer, a compass rose on a mo *able axis, an arm pivoted on said movable axis, a swivel connection between said arm and said pointer, '21 hand projecting from said arm and pointing to t the graduations on the compass rose, and l a scale raduated toshow the longitudinal may be used to make the proper calculations of any force; As the length of the thirdadjnsting the distance between the axes of movement of the movable axis of the arm and rose, said scale being connected with and carried by the movement of the said movable axis.

'5. A navigators calculating instrument having a base, a pointer ivoted on the base, a segmental scale for in icating the degrees of movement of the pointer, said scale being fixed on the base and having its center coincident with the axis of the pointer, a slot in the base, a block movable along the slot,

astud carried by said block, an arm pivoted on said stud, a hand projecting from said arm to the graduations of the compass rose, a block movable along said arm adjacent to a scale thereon, means for moving the block along the 'arm, a swivel connection between said arm block and the ointer, and a scale connected to and movable with the block that is mounted in the slot in the base.

6. Anavigators calculating instrumenthaving a fixed scale, a rotatable and longitudinally movable compass rose, a scale movable longitudinally with the compass rose, an arm rotatable on an axis that is coincident with the axis of rotation of the compass rose, and a pointer pivoted on the base and ivotally connected with said arm. 7 A ca culating instrument having a base with a graduated quadrant, a lever pivoted to the base at the axis of the quadrant, and adapted to be moved so that its end will read both sides of the zero of the quadrant, a lever pivotally connected with the first mentioned lever and pivotally and slidin ly connected with the base, means for a justin the distance between the axes of the ivota connections of said latter lever wit said former lever and with said base, and a scale for reading the position along the base of the sliding pivotal connection of the said latter lever with the base.

EBENEZER- HILL, JR. Witnesses S. M. STEVENS, J. E. SLATER. 

